Date: 5 January 2018
Time: 23.22hrs
Location: Walker, Newcastle
Late last night Northumbria Police requested the assistance of North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and ourselves. A male in his 40s had been reported missing from home in the Walker area of Newcastle. Given the concern for the man’s wellbeing, the Teams were immediately called out.
As the Police Search Adviser and our Incident Officer were planning the search and members were arriving at Walker Riverside Park, a member of the public reported seeing the man. Very soon after the man was located by Police officers. A very positive and swift outcome for the first incident of the year.
The Teams were stood down at 01.15hrs and everyone was back in bed by 02.30hrs!
SARLOC – the location App – was used by our Duty Controller and the Teams were on standby in case our assistance was required. Soon after the NEAS Hazardous Area Response Team located the casualty and determined they could deal with the situation.
The incident involved 4 Team members for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Date: 27 July 2017
Time: 15.40hrs
Location: The Cheviot
The busy period continues with another incident yesterday afternoon. A walker fell on the flag stones near the summit of The Cheviot and sustained a head injury. His companion provided immediate first aid and requested the assistance of Mountain Rescue.
Northumbria Police contacted North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and ourselves, and our Duty Controller swiftly called out the Teams. Contact was also made with the casualty’s companion to assess the severity of the injuries.
As our Team Land Rover and members were en-route to the Harthope Valley, a local member headed up the hill to assess the situation. He was then followed by other Team members carrying a stretcher, casualty bag, group shelter, oxygen and other medical kit. Thankfully after the initial assessment it was felt that the casualty could walk off the hill with support. It would have been a very long stretcher carry off otherwise.
After medical attention and being warmed, a 3km supported walk down the hill and a short Landrover ride later, saw us hand over the casualty to the North East Ambulance Service.
We wish the walker a swift recovery not least because the accident happened on their first walk of a holiday to Northumberland. Not the way either of the walkers had hoped their day would end.
Date: 16 July 2017
Time: 12.53 hrs
Location: East coast, near South Shields
The Duty Controller for North of Tyne MRT and ourselves responded to a request from Northumbria Police again to use SARLOC in helping to locate a missing person. The person was believed to be on the coast in the South Shields area.
The missing person was found two hours after the initial request in a cave on the coast near South Shields.
The incident lasted 1 hour 55 minutes and involved one Team member.
Northumbria Police contacted North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and ourselves for advice yesterday morning. They were concerned for the wellbeing of a vulnerable male, who was potentially in Cumbria.
Using SARLOC, a smartphone location app, and MX SARMAN’s location tool, our Duty Controller was able to confirm the missing male was indeed outside of our operational area in Cumbria. With further information from our Duty Controller, the Police Search Adviser was able to ensure the vulnerable male was returned home to his family, safe and well.
The incident involved two Team members for 2 hours 50 minutes.
Date: 05 July 2017
Time: 09.00 hrs
Location: Yearning Saddle, near Lamb Hill
The Team was requested to assist with the evacuation of a walker from the mountain refuge shelter at Yearning Saddle just below Lamb Hill by the North East Ambulance Service yesterday morning. The lone walker had spent the night in the shelter and was suffering from severe abdominal pains. Two other walkers who had also spent the night at the shelter raised the alarm.
The Team and North of Tyne MRT responded immediately from the south and Border Search & Rescue Unit were requested to deploy from the north side of the Border ridge. A member of our controller group was swiftly to the RVP at Blindburn and in discussion with our Incident Officer, who was operating remotely, agreed to proceed with a NEAS Community Paramedic to the casualty.
Thankfully the farmers from Blindburn and Fulhope came to our assistance. Whilst our 4x4s we’re still en-route they provided us with the off-road capability required to get us up the hill.
Whilst all of this was happening the NEAS HART with their Polaris was travelling to the RVP and the MCA helicopter from Prestwick had been deployed. At this stage we had no confirmed condition of the casualty.
Twenty minutes are deploying from Blindburn, a Team member and the Paramedic were in-scene with the casualty. After the initial assessment, the walker was safely evacuated from the hill in the farmer’s pick-up. Skilful driving which saved a lot of leg work!
We hope the walker makes a swift and full recovery. We would like to thank all the agencies involved for their swift and coordinated response and pay particular thanks to the farmers who assisted with evacuation. Much appreciated.
Date: 30 June 2017
Time: 20.49hrs
Location: Bell Crags, near Stonehaugh
A relaxing Friday night was briefly disturbed by a request from Northumbria Police to assist in locating two young female walkers. They were reported lost in the Wark Forest area near to Bell Crag.
As the control team from North of Tyne MRT and ourselves were responding the news came through that the young females had been located by the group’s organiser. They were safe and well.
A short lived incident with a good outcome.
A total of 6 members were involved for 16 minutes.
Date: 25 June 2017
Time: 10.00hrs
Location: Edges Green, nr Hadrian’s Wall
The Hadrian’s Wall Half Marathon was held yesterday in glorious conditions. The Team’s medics dealt with two competitors who had fallen badly during the event. Their wounds were cleaned and dressed.
A total 14 members were involved for 5 hours providing the rescue cover for the event.
Date: 17 June 2017
Time: 18.14hrs
Location: Pennine Way, near Windy Gyle
On Saturday early evening, Border Search & Rescue Unit alerted the Team and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team to an incident on the Pennine Way.
A group of 10 walkers had set off earlier in the day from near to Wooler to cover a route of over 20 miles as part of a fundraising effort for charity. The group had split in two during the day and two walkers in one group of five were suffering from dehydration and exhaustion.
As the walkers were technically in our operational area and given the nature of their condition, our Incident Officer agreed with Border Search & Rescue Unit that they would deploy members from the north to the Border ridge. The two walkers and the other three in the group were eventually reunited at Cocklawfoot where the Scottish Ambulance Service assessed the two casualties.
Our Incident Officer provided remote support to the incident and liaised with Northumbria Police to determine whether the other five walkers had safely made it off the hill. A hasty team also stood by in case additional support was required.
All members of the group were confirmed to be safely off the hill at 22.27hrs.
A walker in their late 50s reported themselves lost on a circular walk from Ingram. Once Northumbria Police had confirmed the location of the walker’s car, one of our controllers was despatched to liaise with the Police in Ingram.
Unfortunately at this North of Tyne MRT and ourselves had very little to go on – no intended route or no last known point other than Ingram car park! A SARLOC text message was sent to the walker’s mobile and our Incident Officer tried unsuccessfully to contact the walker on his mobile.
Given we were unable to contact the walker, we assumed he must be dropping into a valley… and low and behold after half an hour, a message came through from the Police to say the walker had safely found their own way off the hill.
The incident involved 4 Team members for 45 minutes.
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